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...Using the fiberglass for the horizontal pole worked for my weight of 165, but won't work for the wife as she is cracking 200 and so I called the Army Surplus and told him I would be by tomorrow to pick up 8 - 4fters in aluminum...

I'm surprised the fiberglass didn't work well...too much bowing? Your photos show a correct placement of the hang loops and "tree" straps. With my 185 lbs and aluminum poles set up the same way, there is just enough upward deflection to offset the slight sag from the ridgepoles own weight.

Originally Posted by Acer

Will the aluminum Army Surplus Stand hold a 300 to 400lb guy? Does anybody know the weight limitations? I have a friend that might like one of these aluminum Army Surplus Stand.

I previously boasted that I was sure my stand would hold 500 lbs (or something like that), but to my knowledge this is untested. After your experience with the fiberglass, I'm guessing the ridgepole may be the limiting factor. Bring him up to Columbus and we'll give it a try.

I'm surprised the fiberglass didn't work well...too much bowing? Your photos show a correct placement of the hang loops and "tree" straps. With my 185 lbs and aluminum poles set up the same way, there is just enough upward deflection to offset the slight sag from the ridgepoles own weight.

I previously boasted that I was sure my stand would hold 500 lbs (or something like that), but to my knowledge this is untested. After your experience with the fiberglass, I'm guessing the ridgepole may be the limiting factor. Bring him up to Columbus and we'll give it a try.

When it bowed,,,I didn't have the 2 tripod stands all the way out to the ends of the 16' length of the ridgepole when the wife sat in it,,I had it narrowed down to 13' and was playing with the length of the ridgepole. the fiberglass is very strong for the uprights, but it does creak and pop for a ridgepole so going to pick up aluminum poles for the ridge pole on both sets and make the tripods out of the fiberglass. They are a bit lighter than the aluminum just picking them up and feeling the weight of both. The fiberglass do not flex upward with me but I weight 165.

All I can say is WOW! I left work and the dude at the Army Surplus called me and my 8 fiberglass and 8 aluminum 4' sections were at his abode to be picked up and so I beat it there and picked them up,,and set the TD stand up in the living room with 4 aluminum 4' sections put together for the ridgepole, and hung my RR bridge hammock up and got in it, then the wife got in it,,and absolutely no flexing or movement up or down on the ridgepole at all with me or her in it..then I hung her gathered end hammock up and she jumped right into it,,and wouldn't get out! And there was absolutely no flexing up or down on the ridgepole again. Fiberglass poles will work with a lightweight like me at 165 lbs with no flexing, but anybody over 200lbs has to use aluminum as the fiberglass is perfect for the tripods but not on a ridgepole. they are lighter than the aluminum in weight also. The simplicity of this setup for carcamping or backyard is very neat. I am really liking this setup and 2 sets fits in my trunk of my Toyota Corolla with plenty of room for other items which is another plus as well as the rack on my Jeep Wrangler. Here is a few pics of the wife enjoying her hammock using the stand.